Doesn't need to be accurate - at least you made a List!Maybe if more people (including the thread-initiator) would get drunk, this discussion might be more extensive! To me it's a somewhat formidable task

Yes, I know, time to step up as the thread-originator and lay out my list. For the record, I did have the exact order already set at the time I posted the initial thread (though I changed it a bit here and there since), but I wanted to do one better by writing a summary/take on each episode; an entire synopsis/thesis of sorts. I got a few of them done but I really haven't had the time to complete the entire thing. It would have taken quite a while longer and just reading this thread today for the first time in awhile, I see quite a few responses were made and felt it was time to at least put my list out there. Summeries/takes can come at perhaps another time. Of course there's no guarantee I may tweak it up yet again but it's safe to say most of what you see at least will stay as is. Remember, everyone, this IS the SOPRANOS we are talking about here. An episode in the Top 50 of this list is a VERY GREAT episode. It's just with this challenging list to create, SOME episode has to be in each slot no matter how good. It's just something I did for fun, certainly doesn't mean my list is 'right'. In fact, as much a Sopranos-afficionado that I am (and I certainly AM one), I feel like a dwarf compared to most if not all on this site, especially 'Fly'. I'm sure my list won't be popular. However, I do see that zwingli (GREAT list, by the way), Tomolo, and I agree on the same one at #1 and zwingli and I almost agree on #86. Anyways, wihtout further to do, here it is, apologies for being tardy and for the no summaries, really wanted to do so.......

(#86) Chasing It - Season 6 Part 2, Episode 4 Written by Matthew Weiner Directed by Tim Van Patten

Thanks BFazio, your list is terrific, clearly well thought out. Comparing two lists of 86 episodes is pretty hard, but I notice a couple clear similarities and differences.

We both put MIA as #1, which is always a pretty solid choice for that final scene alone.

As you noted, we also both have "Chasing It" near the bottom of the list, at 86 or 85. That excessive shaky cam just throws off the mood of the whole show.

"Whitecaps" is also in a pretty similar spot on near the top of our respective lists, but the episodes surrounding it are quite varied.

You have "Johnny Cakes" right at the bottom, whereas I put it in the top half of my list. I guess an episode focusing primarily on AJ and Gay Vito can't be too appealing, but I honestly enjoyed the way the episode weaved between their storylines. It had a distinct pacing and atmosphere, and the thematic parallels were pretty meaty.

You tied "Join the Club" and "Mayham", understandable since they could be considered one extended episode. However, I saw Mayham as a not insignificant drop in quality from JtC. Mayham had a handful of great moments, but JtC was a terrific and immersive hour from start to finish.

Edit: I don't know why my comment has a thumbs down on it. I'm sorry if I hurt anyone.

zwingli wrote:Thanks BFazio, your list is terrific, clearly well thought out. Comparing two lists of 86 episodes is pretty hard, but I notice a couple clear similarities and differences.

We both put MIA as #1, which is always a pretty solid choice for that final scene alone.

As you noted, we also both have "Chasing It" near the bottom of the list, at 86 or 85. That excessive shaky cam just throws off the mood of the whole show.

"Whitecaps" is also in a pretty similar spot on near the top of our respective lists, but the episodes surrounding it are quite varied.

You have "Johnny Cakes" right at the bottom, whereas I put it in the top half of my list. I guess an episode focusing primarily on AJ and Gay Vito can't be too appealing, but I honestly enjoyed the way the episode weaved between their storylines. It had a distinct pacing and atmosphere, and the thematic parallels were pretty meaty.

You tied "Join the Club" and "Mayham", understandable since they could be considered one extended episode. However, I saw Mayham as a not insignificant drop in quality from JtC. Mayham had a handful of great moments, but JtC was a terrific and immersive hour from start to finish.

Edit: I don't know why my comment has a thumbs down on it. I'm sorry if I hurt anyone.

Thanks, zwingli!

You may have already noticed that I took some of the summaries written and already posted them in the Individual Episodes threads. I'll post some more that I've already written later; don't want to inundate. JTC & Mayham, to me, are like "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions". They must always be joined at the hip even if you think that one may be better than the other. Yes, I'll place JTC above Mayham too but both work together as a team. Without Mayham, JTC loses value and especially the case vice versa. What I like about Mayham is seing Sil out of his '#2' element. Bobby following him into the ambulance only caring about his 'cut' is hilarious. Made In America, it's pretty obvious. Don't want to further entertain the ongoing debate, but if you feel T got whacked in the end, then you HAVE TO place it at #1 for reasons that of course are better off on another thread and I really don't feel like debating it. If you think "life went on", then there's NO LIMIT to how far it can fall from that very top spot because then so much in that very episode, any many arrows in many previous episodes, will cease to make sense. But there is respectable intelligent debate to the contrary and that right there makes it all a Masterpiece. To his credit, David Chase did indeed set it all up to SEEM like a debate, sprinkling a labyrinth of clues, fake-clues, red herrings, fake-red-herrings and so on. There is only ONE answer. He would not make it into a 'pick-your-own-ending'. "It's all there" as he said. Of course I don't know this for CERTAIN (100%). David Chase hasn't made it official to the public. Why SHOULD he? That, as he said, would water it all down. Let's hope he never DOES make it official.

I see you placed "Whoever Did This" quite high up there. Heck of an episode! Just seen it again recently. My personal reason for not placing it higher than I did, in addiiton to the simple fact that there were just that many more EVEN-BETTER episodes IMO, is it kind of does drag just a bit after the fight. The way it ends though, that last shot with Tony coming out into the light, does quite a bit to redeem that if you even want to use the word 'redeem'. If you judged Sopranos by 'half'-episodes, then the 1st half of WDT may very well be in the Top 5 at the very least. Placing 'I Dream of JC' to me is like rooting for the bigger, stronger, faster athlete being that it has that obvious multi-plotedness to it, but you simply HAVE TO place its face on Sopranos' 'Mt Rushmore'. And then you got Long Term Parking. There's only one obvious thing to think of when thinking of that episode yet I have it at #2 (#1 if Tony 'LIVES'). Not all episodes have to be multi-plotted to be elite.

I personally think Tony got killed. Anyways, on the topic of Whoever Did This, i kind of liked the way everything screeched to a halt after Tony killed Ralphie. Generally this is because I admire that episode for the sheer level of structural mind fuck it rained down upon the viewers. Not only did this episode suddenly show Ralphie in a very tragic and sympathetic light, and not only did it kill him immediately afterward, but this was all in the first half of the episode, and the second half was a complete 180 single mindedly chronicling the disposal of his corpse, step by step, in a very matter of fact and blackly humorous fashion. and meanwhile you almost forget the fact that Junior just got brain damage and may be suffering from dementia. when Tony left the Bing and it cut to black with the Morricone remix playing, it just left me sitting there, pondering how the fuck everything about this show could change so drastically and violently over the course of one episode. Midway through Season fucking Four, of all places. This was just an extremely well thought out story beat that gets to the audience on a kind of meta level.

i also liked the portrayal of Tony as a literal monster, with pepper sprayed eyes and a low, guttural voice, an image so striking they had to use it again in Soprano Home Movies. there's a lot of other sublime imagery surrounding the disposal as well - Tony carrying the chains up the harshly lit stairwell like some monstrous emissary of doom, the bowling ball falling down the stairs just as they take Ralph's head from the bag, Ralph's severed hand almost touching Tony's junk and Tony's profoundly unsettled reaction, Chris hilariously failing to operate a backhoe, Ralph's remains sinking into the dark waters below the cliff they threw him from. I just really love this episode. Sorry if that was a tangent.

As one who referred to the lapse of time since you started the thread without actually sharing your list, it's certainly understandable as it's not easy being both a criminal mastermind and art reveiwer, just as Christopher had difficulty being a soldier and writer.